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Tuesday, October 11, 2016

THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER

Happy Wednesday Everybody!

BROOKS RETURNS - The Regina Pats Hockey Club announced Monday, the 2015/16 Bobby Clarke Trophy winner, Adam Brooks, has been sent back to the team by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Brooks, a fourth round pick of the Leafs in 2016 NHL Draft, was reassigned to the Pats after taking part in training camp with both the Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies over the last four weeks. "We are thrilled to have Adam back," said Pats Head Coach and GM John Paddock. "When adding a player like that to any team in the league, he is going to make you better. We look forward to him playing this week." The Winnipeg, MB product led the WHL in scoring last year with 38 goals and 82 assisted for 120 points. He is entering the fifth season of his junior career. Brooks will be in the lineup tonight when the Pats host the Portland Winterhawks, at the Brandt Centre at 7 p.m.WILLIAMS REASSIGNED - The Pats also announced Monday that defenceman Owen Williams (00), has been reassigned to the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the BCMML. This leaves the roster at 24, 14 forwards eight defencemen and two goaltenders.

POWERPLAY ROLLING - The Pats powerplay has been nothing short of dominant through the first six games of the year. The club is operating at 30.0 per cent in those games, nine for 30. The Pats have scored at least one powerplay goal in every game they have played this year.LEEDAHL'S FAST START - The Pats are getting great production from forward Dawson Leedahl who was acquired from the Everett Silvertips this summer. Leedahl is tied for the league leading point streak with at least a point in all six games of his Pats career (2G 6A). It's not just the point production that has been so impressive, he is tough to play against, blocks shots and works incredibly hard. He has been a huge part of the early season success.

WAGNER MISSES TWO - Pats forward Austin Wagner will serve the second of hi two game suspension tonight. The L.A. Kings prospect received a five minute major penalty against the Kootenay Ice on Friday night on a hit from behind. He missed Saturday's 5-2 win over Brandon and will miss tonight against the Portland Winterhawks. It will be interesting to see what happens on Friday this week when Wagner returns to the lineup in Kootenay when the Pats play the Ice again.

T-BIRDS GET GROPP - Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Russ Farwell announced Monday, the team has been notified left wing Ryan Gropp will be returning to the T-Birds from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. The 20-year old T-Birds are center Scott Eansor, left wing Cavin Leth, goalie Rylan Toth and Gropp when he joins the team. Gropp had 34 goals and 36 assists for 70 points last season with the T-Birds. Gropp has played in 192 career games in three seasons with the T-Birds and has 82 goals and 88 assists for 170 points. Gropp was selected by the New York Rangers in the second round, 41st overall, in the 2015 NHL Draft.

GUHLE BACK IN PA - On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres announced their 23-man opening night roster and that Brendan Guhle had been re-assigned to the Raiders. Guhle was a second-round pick of the Sabres in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Last season, the Sherwood Park, AB product played in 63 games, scoring 10 goals and adding 18 assists. Following the season, he skated in six games with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, picking up a goal and three assists.DUKE RETURNED TO BRANDON - The Brandon Wheat Kings received some welcome news Monday night when they learned that veteran Reid Duke was heading back to the defending Western Hockey League Champions. A 20-year old Calgary product, Duke had been skating with the New York Rangers American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford. Duke has spent the past two seasons in Brandon. Scoring 53 goals and 113 points in 120 games. While Duke is heading back to the Wheat Kings, the same can’t be said for all star defenceman Ivan Provorov as Philadelphia has announced that the former first round draft choice has made the Flyers roster for the 2016-17 National Hockey League season.

BLUE JAYS! - Man, what a series for Toronto against the Texas Rangers. They looked like the team everyone thought they should be all year long. Timely hitting, great starting pitching and the bulpen was lights out. Cleveland will be tough in the ALCS but they are back and I can't wait for things to get started this weekend.